Tag: Toby Keith

I’ve said many times before that my taste in music stretches far and wide. But if I had to listen to only on genre of music for the rest of my life, it would be country music. And if I had to be more specific, I would choose 90’s country music (followed closely by outlaw country and Texas/red dirt country).

I can’t help it. It is what I was raised on, and honestly, I think it played a large part in why I love good storytelling.

This was by far the hardest playlist so far to keep under a certain number. I could have easily created this long of a playlist with just a small handful of my favorite 90’s country artists, but there were also quite a few single hits that I could not overlook. So I limited myself to 1-2 songs per artists and for the most part, kept it to upbeat songs, though there were a few slow songs that snuck in. I also did quite a bit of double checking to make sure that the songs featured really were from albums that came out between 1990 to 1999. I had so much fun picking through these albums, since so many of them we had a home growing up.

And just so no one yells at me… I am well aware that there is no Garth Brooks on this list, but his music is not on Spotify.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed putting it together! Happy Friday!

It is definitely my favorite holiday. I like it better than Christmas.

When I tell people that, I find that I get two different responses. Most people kind of look at me strange and add a “oh that’s nice.” But those who do understand, usually REALLY understand. I love the 4th of July because it’s in some ways a laid back, low maintenance holiday. It’s about celebrating hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, and our past, present and future. Regardless of what is going on in the world around us or even on our home turf, it seems to put everything on pause, even if it is just for a day, and reminds us of how lucky we are to live here. And we celebrate with some of my favorite things, like family and friends, summertime, grilling, being outside, music and of course – fireworks.

Let’s be honest, it really all comes down to my love for watching fireworks. I’m only kind of slightly obsessed.

Anyways…you get the picture. I might be a tad bit patriotic and therefore I also have a long list of tunes to with it. What are some of your patriotic tunes? Enjoy!

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue by Toby KeithOkay I’ll make this simple. No, I’m not going to ask you to like Toby Keith. I know enough people who don’t that its not worth the arguement. However, opinions aside you have to have at least a little bit of respect for his patriotism and time he takes to honor our service men and women. Plus this song and these others, Made in America and American Soldier, make me smile.

Independence Day by Martina McBride
This song has an indirect, more metaphorical connection to the holiday, that focuses on some of the human themes we associate with this day. Plus, I just think its beautiful.

Chicken Fried by Zac Brown BandThe debut single for the Zac Brown Band is another one that has even less of a connection to the holiday. But it encompasses many of the favorite things that I enjoy about the holiday, as well as the way of life and simple things that I value about being an American. But seriously, what is there not to love about these guys?

This Ragged Old Flag – Johnny Cash
This one has had my heart since I was little. I’ve always had a special place for Johnny Cash and this one would play almost every Sunday on the AM station that my dad would have on in the mornings. It’s technically not music, but when Cash is the narrator, you don’t need music.

Amazing Grace – Alan JacksonIt wasn’t a question of whether or not I was going to include this song. Amazing Grace is one of my favorite songs and I tear up almost every time I hear it. But I struggled a bit with what version I was going to share. Someone from almost every genre has recorded it, and my favorite is actually with bagpipes and no vocalist. But Jackson just recently recorded his version, and because I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to share.

Here are some other suggestions that were on my mind: America Saturday Night – Brad Paisley, Only in Ameria – Brooks & Dunn, God Bless the U.S.A. – Lee Greenwood, America the Beautiful – Ray Charles, Have You Forgotten-Darryl Worley, Letters From Home-John Michael Montgomery, Arlington-Trace Adkins, Born Country-Alabama, American Child-Phil Vassar, My Town-Montgomery Gentry, Back Where I Come From-Kenny Chesney, American Beautiful- The Henningsens

My Favorite Words.

'The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still' -Exodus 14:14

"You've got to know your limitations. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way." - Johnny Cash

"Courage is the ladder that all virtues are mounted on." - Mr. R. Crosby Kemper, Jr.

"It's your choice, Ace. People can live a hundred years without really living for a minute. You climb up here with me, it's one less minuteyou haven't lived." - Gilmore Girls

"Faith, it does not make things easy, it makes them possible" - Luke 1:37

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the lights that I have." -Abraham Lincoln

"Writing is a struggle against silence." - Carlos Fuentes

"At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. It’s like one day you realize that the fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be a castle. And it’s not so important happy ever after, just that its happy right now. See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you, and once in a while people may even take your breath away." - Grey's Anatomy

"Imperfection is beauty. Madness is genius. And it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. And when it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them." - Marilyn Monroe

“It’s not that I believe everything happens for a reason. Some things are meant to be broken. Imperfect. Chaotic. It’s the universe’s way of providing contrast. There have to be a few holes in the road. It’s how life is." – Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever

"Opportunity knocks; that doesn't mean you have to knock the door off the hinges." - Sam Herringshaw

"Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors." – William P. Young, The Shack

‎"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." - Robin Williams

"I think I'd miss you even if I'd never met you."-The Wedding Date

"If you don't even believe in the possibility of magic, you'll never ever find it." - Castle